“A note? So if I ask Frampton, he will confirm this?”
“Good afternoon, everyone.” Nash strode into the room. “I trust everyone slept well.” His dark eyes danced with amusement when he glanced at Victor.
The churl. Muscles in Victor’s neck tensed. Surely, he wouldn’t expose them? He claimed to like Juliana, but as for his feelings for Victor—well.
Nash folded his tall body in a chair and leisurely crossed one foot across his opposing knee. “Did I hear something about a note for Mr. Pratt?”
The duchess handed Nash a cup of tea. “Yes. Juliana said she sent a note to Mr. Pratt informing him she decided to marry him.”
After taking an annoyingly slow sip, Nash nodded. “Miss Merrick seemed especially anxious to deliver it. I happened to be up early, so I attended to the task myself. I believe one of your maids saw me around five this morning.”
The cool liar didn’t blink an eye. Hopefully, no one would question the maid. Or if they did, Nash had paid her to forget she’d also seen Victor sneaking out of the house. Nash turned toward Juliana. “Did that put your mind at ease so you were able to get some sleep?”
Relief washed over Juliana’s face. “Not much. I was up and dressed before Miss Price came in to wake me. Have you seenThe Muckraker?”
“Adalyn read it to me,” Nash answered. “Ugly business. I noticed they didn’t name my wife as the woman you were with in the orangery, Pratt. Wise move on their part, although it doesn’t keep me from wanting to hunt them down and wring their necks.”
The duchess paled. “All things considered, and although I understand your desire to seek retribution, it might be prudent not to say such things aloud in less friendly company.”
Nash barked a laugh. An odd reaction from a man accused of strangling a woman to death a few years before. “Fair point, Your Grace.” Nash took another sip of his tea, his expression thoughtful. “Unless I missed something, it doesn’t provide any indication of the culprit’s identity.”
Juliana’s shoulders slumped. “No.”
An idea itched the back of Victor’s mind. “There was no mention of what you shared with Ashton, Nash. I’d hoped Davies was involved.”
“Or he plans to keep the information about the new opportunity to himself, and reporting my alleged bad fortune would tip his hand. I’d keep an eye on him if I were you.”
Longing to discuss something more joyful, Victor brought the subject back to what mattered most, and, turning to the duchess, he took Juliana’s hand in his. “How soon after the funeral can Juliana and I marry?”
“I think the following Monday would be acceptable. The fifteenth is on a Thursday. We could plan for Friday, but it would be advisable to not appear in too great a rush. Also, if most of thetonremain in Town for the funeral, it would be wise to give them a few days to depart for their country homes. The fewer remaining to spread gossip, the better.”
With that settled, although not especially to Victor’s satisfaction, he rose. “I should take my leave.”
Juliana rose with him. “I’ll see you out.”
After Victor requested for his curricle to be brought around, he waited for Frampton to leave, then he pulled Juliana into his arms and whispered, “I’ll need to thank Nash. I was certain your brother had found us out.”
He kissed her as long and passionately as possible before Frampton returned. “I’m sorry we have to wait so long before the wedding.”
“I am, too.” She sighed and sagged into him, her cheek pressed against his chest. She felt so incredibly right in his arms.
A smile fought its way to his lips. How had he not noticed how her hair was tied back before? Without untying it, he gave the dark-blue ribbon a little tug. “This looks familiar.”
The giggle vibrated against his chest. “I couldn’t resist. It made me feel close to you. However, Miss Price did question me regarding where it came from.”
With his forefinger, he lifted her chin for another quick kiss. “I have something important to do, but I will call upon you tomorrow. Weather permitting, perhaps we can go for a ride.”
“I’d love that, although I don’t have a black riding habit.”
“The king’s death is so inconvenient.”
Her smile lit up his world. “More for him than anyone, I would imagine.”
After bidding Juliana goodbye, he climbed into his curricle, one destination on his mind—Lord and Lady Whyte’s. He intended to have a harsh word with Lydia.
Juliana fingered the thin ribbon,a warm buttery sensation flowing through her stomach as she remembered threading her hands through Victor’s long hair the night before. The ribbon more than tied her hair back; it linked her to the man she loved. The man she would marry. He’d left only moments earlier, but she missed him already.
A masculine cough sounded behind her, and she spun to find Nash. Leaning against the wall, he studied her. “I had hoped to catch Pratt before he left, but I waited to give you two a bit of privacy.”